• Question and Answer Session

COUNCIL TAX CONSULTATION

Viv O’Leary, Department of Finance, thanked the area forum for giving her the opportunity to talk about changes to the Council Tax system.

The Government has announced that from April 2013, Council Tax Benefits will no longer exist in their current form and all councils will need to devise their own Council Tax Support scheme. 

In addition, Wirral Council will have to work within a budget that has been reduced by at least 10%, which for 2013/14 equates to an initial budget reduction in the region of £3.2 million.  As a result the Council has to make some difficult decisions about who should get financial support and how much support they should be given.

The Council Tax Benefit, which is the means tested benefit that helps people on a low income to pay their Council Tax, will be abolished and replaced with a new local scheme, known as Local Council Tax Support Scheme.

The Government has decided that pensioners and vulnerable people must be protected, and that vulnerable people should be defined locally.

Wirral Council is consulting on the definition of vulnerable people, [eg those of working age who have a disability, have a disabled child, have a war disabled pension or a war widow/widower pension] and is consulting on a proposal to base the local scheme for 2013/14 on the principles of the existing Council Tax Benefit scheme, and on possible options for achieving the £3.2 million savings needed from the scheme.

Members of the public are urged to complete the questionnaire by the return date of 31 October 2012.  Questionnaires can be completed on line on the website in libraries [apart from Rock Ferry Library].  Paper versions can be obtained from and returned to any Council One Stop Shop, Library, Leisure Centre and Children’s Centre.  Completed questionnaires can be returned by post.

Once the consultation finishes, a report will be presented to Elected Members who will make the final decisions on Wirral Council’s Local Council Tax Support Scheme. 

Viv O’Leary responded to questions on the classes of persons who are entitled to a reduction under the scheme, the number of responses to date [400], and the media used to publicise the consultation [The Wirral Globe].

Viv stated that it would be helpful if those present this evening could take away the consultation paper and give feedback, and to encourage responses from family members and friends.

Viv responded to the question.